As 2026 draws closer to its conclusion, I would like to share my resolution concerning my public speaking moving forward.
2026 marks twenty years since our daughter Natalie was murdered. She was twenty years old when her life was taken.
I shared twenty incredible years with Natalie. I watched her grow and develop into a beautiful and remarkable young woman. But nevertheless, the twenty years that followed her loss have been an extensive and lonely period without her. I call this year my personal 20/20.
All through these past twenty years I have provided countless, in person presentations to schools, police services, victim service agencies and several ministries, throughout Ontario, I have presented at conferences in Ontario, in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Edmonton, Alberta.
I cannot say how many of these presentations have been delivered. Each has been a journey close to my heart.
I speak as a representative of the Natalie Novak Fund (NNF). The Natalie Novak fund (NNF) was established twenty years ago. It was formed shortly after Natalie’s murder in May 2006.
It is funded via many generous, private donations of family members, friends, agency services and citizens, all wanting to support this work, in memory of Natalie Novak. The mission statement and purpose of the Natalie Novak Fund (NNF) is to provide and promote awareness and education regarding relationship violence and intimate partner violence (IPV).
With the help of the fund, I have spearheaded and helped create two educational videos (If Only … Natalie’s Story and Breaking the Silence) I have written the document “The Constructive Analysis of the Murder of Natalie Novak” with colleagues. I have established a website for Natalie (www.natalienovakfund.com)
The document and the video Breaking the Silence can be found online and on the website of Natalie Novak. (www.natalienovakfund.com)
The Natalie Novak Fund has championed Barb’s memorial benches. These purple benches commemorate IPV victims of femicide in our community, in keeping with the Barb’s Benches program of Nova Scotia. There are four benches around Natalie’s home community of Bracebridge Ontario. Each bench honours a woman lost to intimate partner violence.
At times this work has been onerous to carry out but mostly it has been gratifying. I think about the thousands of students, professionals and those that work in front line positions dealing with the results and issues of intimate partner violence, throughout the years and feel a contentment.
But nonetheless, I feel it is now time to close this chapter of my life. In acknowledgement of the significance, of 2026 I have decided to step away from in person presentations to groups.
I wish to assure people that the Natalie Novak Fund (NNF) for developing awareness and providing education regarding relationship violence and intimate partner violence will continue to provide services, in the form of special school presentations, materials, videos and coaching for those in need.
Donations to the (NNF) Natalie Novak Fund can and will hopfully continue through the same method (www.natalienovakfund.com) as per the past twenty years. The fund will work with the guidance of Muskoka Women’s Advocacy Group (MWAG). New projects to address student education, victim coaching to develop new public speakers and sharing, videos and materials will continue to work in the memory of Natalie Novak.
I would like to give my sincerest thanks to the many individuals that have coached, mentored and supported the work that has been done in Natalie’s name. My profound wish is that Natalie and her story will never be forgotten. There is much power and purpose in remembering.
- Dawn Novak
